Pruning ('til it HURTS!) : )

I have a fruit tree which feeds me. It gives me all that I need to the point that in sustaining me, it is me, it is all I have and need. I eat of this tree and I share some with others, and I admire the trees of others.

A little while ago the gardener came to me and shook his head... "Lazy fellow... look at the weeds around thy tree's roots."

Joyfully I dug up the weeds and burned them and enjoyed the warmth. I turned to reach for another piece of fruit and the gardener shook his head and pointed to the pruning hook, the saw, and the knife. "Later" I said and threw myself at the base of the tree with a piece of fruit and my flute.

A good size branch fell on my head.

"Bastard!" I yelled at the gardener. "Why did thee not keep thy garden better! Why did thee drop that branch on my head!"

The gardener looked at me, silent and amused. Muttering I took up the tools and cut more rotted wood away. "There!" I said, ready to drop the tools.

"There... " he said gently pointing at more rot. I cut and cut and he pointed. I muttered and complained and he pointed. I thought myself done and he pointed. At last I cried out, "Gardener! How will I know if I cut away too much."

"Thee will know... keep at thy work." I cut and the sap and my blood ran together. The gardener nodded and I stopped cutting.

I picked up a piece of fruit and he pointed aloft. "Does thee not remember that lightening that hit that branch many years ago" he asked me? I began to rise, tears in my eyes, and yet resigned. He put his hand to my chest and eased me down to the grass again and handed me my flute.

"Thy tree grows slowly, and thee needs strength to help it grow right. As thee learns to prune, and tend thy tree, thee must also learn patience and also learn pleasure... play me a joyous tune and we will eat together."

Thank the QuaCarol for being one of the voices saying... calm.